"`Is it Mary Sullivan, you mane?' says I; `she that was married about three months back, and is so quick in child-getting, that she's all but ready to fall to pieces in this same time?' "`It's exactly she,' says Mrs O'Rourke; `and do you know the reason?' "`Devil a bit,' says I; `how should _I_?' "`Then it's just that she may send her own child away, and give her milk to the English babby that's coming; because the lady is too much of a lady to have a child hanging to her breast.' "`But suppose Mary Sullivan's child ar'n't born till afterwards, how then?' says I. `Speak, Mrs O'Rourke, for you're a sensible woman.' "`How then?' says she. `Och! that's all arranged; for Mary says that she'll be in bed a week before the lady, so that's all right, you'll perceive, Father McGrath.' "`But don't you perceive, sensible woman as you are, that a young woman, who is so much out of her reckoning as to have a child three months after her marriage, may make a little mistake in her lying-in arithmetic, Mrs O'Rourke?' "`Never fear, Father McGrath, Mary Sullivan will keep her word; and sooner than disappoint the lady, and lose her place, she'll just tumble downstairs, and won't that put her to bed fast enough?' "`Well, that's what I call a faithful good servant that earns her wages,' says I; `so now I'll just take another glass, Mrs O'Rourke, and thank you too. Sure you're the woman that knows everything, and a mighty pretty woman into the bargain.' "`Let me alone now, Father McGrath, and don't be pinching me that way anyhow.' "`It was only a big flea that I perceived hopping on your gown, my darling, devil anything else.' "`Many thanks to you, father, for that same; but the next time you'd kill my fleas, just wait until they're in a _more dacent_ situation.' "`Fleas are fleas, Mrs O'Rourke, and we must catch 'em when we can, and how we can, and as we can, so no offence. A good night's rest to you, Mrs O'Rourke--when do you mean to confess?' "`I've an idea that I've too many fleas about me to confess to you just now, Father McGrath, and that's the truth on it. So a pleasant walk back to you.' "So you'll perceive, my son, that having got all the information from Mrs O'Rourke, it's back I went to Ballyhinch, till I heard it whispered that there were doings down at the old house at Ballycleuch. Off I set, and went to the house itself, as priests always ought to be welcomed at births and marriages, and deaths, being, as you know, of great use on such occasions--when who should open the door but Father O'Toole, the biggest rapparee of a priest in the whole of Ireland. Didn't he steal a horse, and only save his neck by benefit of clergy? and did he ever give absolution to any young woman without making her sin over again? `What may be your pleasure here, Father McGrath?' says he, holding the door with his hand. "`Only just to call and hear what's going on.'